There are nine games to go. Nine cup finals. And a massive promotion prize is still up for grabs.

After a welcome break to recharge Boro batteries, the Championship battle resumes on Saturday with a televised tussle against table-topping Norwich City.

The Canaries crunch is one of the key games that could determine exactly how the campaign unfolds - and when it ends.

But if Boro are to first cement a top six place then push on through the play-offs they will need to improve markedly.

They need to find a shape and tempo that works and dominates the opposition and a mentality to see out games.

And, crucially, they will need to play with intent and enterprise and take the fans with them.

Here we look at three decisive factors that will determine how Boro will fare in the final straight.

And we pick out five pivotal games that may shape the climax to the campaign.

Boro need to play on the front foot

Boro have nine games to go. Five wins should do it. Or four and three draws. That would rack up 73 points which should be enough, although, obviously, the more the merrier.

Defending and clocking up solid draws now could be a killer. Boro need to win games - and that means scoring goals.

They need to play assertive football, pushing the action higher up the pitch and create and convert more chances.

Jonny Howson puts Boro ahead vs QPR (Image: Getty Images)

And not just the strikers. The midfield needs to chip in too. And those defenders who were supposed to be set piece machines.

Before the drubbing at Villa, the team had been showing positive signs of a more attacking side.

An enforced change to three at the back, attack minded midfielders in the wing-back slots, men bombing on from the engine room and two up top made Boro look better balanced, more expansive and more potent.

Results didn’t completely bear that out. Wins at Blackburn and QPR were solid but a flat draw at Wigan was a set-back.

Then ironically Boro played well in flashes but got caught at the back to lose 2-1 to Brentford then were impressive for an hour but lost by the same scoreline to Preston after Dani Ayala was sent off.

Before that they had rattled the post twice, put one in the side-netting and brought some good saves as they looked to add to the opener.

Boro’s best chance of first securing a play-off spot then pushing for promotion may be to retain and refine that attacking style.

Big players need to deliver

The battle for a play-off spot and beyond will put Boro in a pressure cooker of high stakes and expectations.

It is time for the big players, the leaders, to show their experience, their focus and their unwavering will to win.

The Boro dressing room is full of ‘big characters’ we are told. Well, let’s see that on the pitch.

We know John Obi Mikel has won everything and we need him to stay composed and pull the strings.

John Obi Mikel (Image: Simon Moore/Focus Images Ltd)

And then there are a clutch of players who have been through the play-offs before and know the landscape: George Friend, Dani Ayala and Adam Clayton have lost at Wembley while Jonny Howson won with Norwich.

That trio plus Ryan Shotton, Darren Randolph, Dael Fry, Stewart Downing, Mo Besic and Britt Assombalonga will know where they fell short last year against Aston Villa.

Boro need more this time. They need everyone to really step up a gear or two and play right to the max from here on in.